I watched a movie last night called Talk to Me 
, starring Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Taraji P. Henson. It's about a street-wise guy who dreams of being a DJ in 1960s Washington D.C. There is a scene where the staff at the radio station learns of Dr. King's death — while the city around them burns, the DJ expresses sadness and rage at the same time.
It's funny I picked up that movie as we approach the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. King's life was so eventful: marches, speeches, organizing, traveling. A lot of really hard work, and all of it with everyone's safety at risk.
His accomplishments are many, but I just thought about how one doesn't become great without extraordinary effort. We should remember his actual labors as an organizer, Minister, and family man — Dr. King worked very hard, pretty much non-stop, for several years.
Appropriately, the very next day after the Martin Luther King holiday we will inaugurate Barack Obama as our 44th President. Mr. Obama has quite a bit of non-stop work ahead of him, too, and the results of that labor will determine his measure as a President. But if not for Dr. King's hard work and sacrifice, it's likely Mr. Obama would never have had the opportunity to be elected to office, therefore limiting his measure as a person to just his physical appearance.
This Monday and Tuesday are very important days. We have the chance to experience — actually hear, see, feel — how far we have come. Just by keeping your heart open, you can be a part of an important moment in history. You can be great.
Leave a comment
Please Note
By posting content on this Blog, you expressly grant Wells Fargo (and its affiliates) the right to use or distribute the posted content in any form, worldwide, and in perpetuity. You also agree to indemnify and hold Wells Fargo harmless against all liabilities, losses, claims and expenses arising from your posting of materials on this Blog (this includes any claim that Wells Fargo's use of the content or images infringes on someone else's intellectual property rights). Comments published on this Blog do not necessarily reflect the views of nor are they endorsed by Wells Fargo. We reserve the right not to publish comments that violate our Community Guidelines. NOTE: If you'd like a response to your comment, please use this form.